ORIGINAL ENGRAVED MAP of CRETA. Crete and the Greek Islands, as known to the Ancients. Creta Jovis magni medio iacet insula ponto.

ORTELIUS Abraham

Published by Antwerp 1603

About this Item

Text on verso map in Latin. Large double sided map (engraved surface 18.5 x 14.5 inches). Gold tinted black hardwood Frame, with glass front & back. Frame Size 24.5 x 18.5 inches. In very good condition. A few minor marks. Publishers crease down centre fold. Frame has some gilt chipped off. The map includes a number of elaboration's, especially in the map of Crete. Here, a sailing ship and two sea monsters are visible. Mountains are shown pictorially, and cities are highlighted. A fine example of Ortelius's decorative set of four maps of Mediterranean islands. Showing Corsica, Sardinia, Crete, and the Ionian Islands, this is a very nice map of the region. This map was originally published in Ortelius's Theatrum Orbis Terrarum, the first world atlas. The maps are based on a variety of sources. In the maps of Corsica, Sardinia, and the Ionian islands, Ortelius only cites his use of classical sources. For his map of Crete, Ortelius mentions an earlier Francesco Soranzo map.

Seller Inventory # 93176

Bibliographic Details

• Title: ORIGINAL ENGRAVED MAP of CRETA. Crete and the Greek Islands, as known to the Ancients. Creta Jovis magni medio iacet insula ponto.
• Publisher: Antwerp 1603
• Seller catalogs:
  • MAPS